Flash-light and extension-light combined



Dec. 31, 1957 M. J. FOCH 2,813,498

' FLASH-LIGHT AND EXTENSION-LIGHT COMBINED Filed Aug. 30, 1955ZSheets-Shet 1 Marital J. Foch INVENTOR.

3 v 1 Y Y Dec. 1957 NLJIFOCH Y 8 2,818,498

FLASH-LIGHT AND EXTENSION-LIGHT COMBINED Filed Aug. 50, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

Fig.48

Marcel J. Foch INVENTOR.

United States Patent '0 FLASH-LIGHT AND EXTENSION-LIGHT COMBINED MarcelJ. Foch, Homewood, Ill.

Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,399

2 Claims. (Cl. 240-10.)

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose light, generallyspeaking, and has reference in particular to an improved flash-lighthaving extension cord light facilities incorporated therein whereby toprovide a unified structure which is herein designated as a flash-lightand an extension-light combined.

In carrying out the principles of the invention a flashlight is providedwhich is substantially conventional and operates on two dry primarycells functioning as a three volt battery, and includes the necessarystructural parts to accommodate a resistor cord which receives itssupply of current from 110 and 120 volt house current outlets either D.C. or A. C.

Although the herein revealed multi-purpose light may be appropriated foruse wherever necessary or desired it is primarily intended to be used onboard ships and locomotives by supervisors, inspectors, craftsmen andshop workers of all classifications.

To appreciate the significant advantages of a dual purpose light it iswell to take into consideration the use of the invention on board ship,for example as a flashlight. Under normal conditions by using a .5ampere bulb, a renewal of the cells is generally required or necessaryevery hour. Using the invention as a so-called extension-light, therewill, obviously, be a saving of cells. At the same time there will bepresent a constant reserve of light power available. Assuming that apower failure occurs onboard, it is easy to picture a workman with allof his tools spread on an oily floor, gears or other pieces of machinerypitching and rolling and in motion and perhaps in the dark With thistwo-way light all that is then necessary is to close the switchwhereupon the emergency light source of the flash-light may be broughtinto play.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by aflash-light casing providing a hollow handle and also a receiver andholder for dry cells, said casing being open at at least one end andprovided at the opposite end with a socket means and complementalcurrent conducting prongs, a bulb assembly removably mounted on saidopen end and embodying a reflector, a flash-light bulb carried thereby,a lens and clamp means for the lens and reflector separably connectiblewith the open end portion of said casing, conductors embedded in saidcasing and connected at like ends to their respective prongs,conventional dry cells contained for use in the receiver space of saidcasing, the cell closest to the usual screw base of said bulb havingelectrical cooperation with said base, one of said conductors havingelectrical contact with said reflector, a contact finger having one endfixed to but insulated from said reflector, the other end thereof beinginterposed between said bulb base and the last mentioned dry cell, athird conductor also embedded in said casing, including a manually andoptionally usable switch and having circuit connection with saidreflector and dry cells, whereby the same bulb assembly functions foroperation from said cells or from a source of either A. C. or D. C.house current.

2,818,498 Patented Dec. 31, 1957 Other objects, featuresand advantageswill become more readily apparent from the following description and theaccompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a view in section and elevation showing a dual purposeflash-light constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention and detailing the added facilities and circuits converting theflash-light into an extension-light;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 the section being on the line 33of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary in section and elevation with the cover orlamp bulb assembly ofi and illustrating how the dry cell batteries areinserted or removed;

Figure 5 is a view in elevation and section showing the modified bottomconstruction characterized by an attachable and detachable adapter;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the adapter by itself; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the extension cord.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, the insulated flash-light casing is denoted by the numeral 3.It is of customary elongate form and the upper end is flared andenlarged into a head 10. This may be described as the upper open end andthe head is externally screw-threaded at 12 to accommodate thescrewthreaded clamping ring 14 of the bulb assembly. This includes aregular reflector 16, lens 18 and lamp or bulb 29 with the usualscrew-threaded base 22. This is provided with a permanent conductorfinger 24 one end of which is permanently secured to the exterior of thereflector by way of a block of insulation 26. The free end is laterallydisposed at 28 and is interposed between the adjacent contact button 30and the contact on the base 22 as shown in Fig. 1. On the edge of thereflector flange are two prongs 31 of diflerent sizes fitting into twogrooves 33 of dilferent sizes also, located on the upper end of thecasing 10 and diametrically opposed. This, to permit the spring fingerconductor 24 to remain in perfect contact with the conductor end 54while attaching (screwing) the theaded clamping ring 14. This figurealso shows the dry cells or batteries 32 and 34 in customary end-to-endarrangement with a coil spring 36 interposed between the bottom of thecell 34 and the permanent bottom 38 of the casing. Here this integralbottom is denoted as including an extension 40 having a recess defininga socket 42 housing rigid prongs 44. Connected with the prongs andextending through lengthwise bores 46 are the diametrically oppositehigh voltage conductors 48 and 50. The upper laterally directed end 52of the conductor 48 is in the base of the head and is in electricalengage ment with the reflector 16. The corresponding laterally directedupper end 54 is also in this space and is in contact with the springfinger or conductor 24. This therefore provides the added or additionalcircuit required in this flash-light to convert it into anextension-light. Incidentally, the device may be treated as an extensioncord light with flash-light facilities or vice versa. To complete theflash-light, appropriate conductor means, a third conductor is providedand includes a portion 56 connected with the coil spring as shown inFigure 3 and with a manually operable switch 58 joined to the otherconductor part 60 having a laterally directed end 62 in contact with thereflector. Thus Fig. 3 illustrates a complete flashlight. The purpose ofFig. 4 is merely to show how by removing the cover or lamp assembly thereceiver space of the hollow handle is ready for insertion or removal ofthe batteries 32 and 34.

It is also possible to provide the construction so that the batteriesmay be inserted from the bottom as is evident from Figure 5 whichillustrates a slight modification. Here the insulated handle or casingis denoted by the numeral 64, the head at 66 and the removable covermeans generally at 68. The lower end of the casing is open andscrew-threaded at 70 to accommodate an assembling and clamping ring 72which is also of insulated material and which engages the extendingmarginal flange 74 on the attachable and detachable adapter 76. Thisincludes a coil spring 78 bearing against the lower battery or cell 80and has a socket 82 and prongs 84 therein which prongs have extensions86 projecting into the open end of the bores 88. Here the addedconductors are denoted by the numeral 90 and located in the bores andhave associated spring-pressed contact elements 92 projected by thesprings 94. The terminal ends of the extensions 36 project into thebores and contact the elements 92 to complete the circuit in an obviousmanner.

In Fig. 7 the extension 1;esistance cord is denoted generally by thenumeral 96 and has a conventional plug 98 on one end with usual prongs100 for engagement with an A. C. or D. C. outlet ordinary house current(not detailed). On the other hand, there is a suitable plug 102 having aportion 104 which is fitted frictionally and telescopically into therecess or socket S2 and has accommodating socket 106 for the prongs 84.

It will be evident that this dual purpose or combination lightconstruction works on three volt battery means, A. C. or D. C. houselighting current. Although usable in many places it is highly adaptableto use onboard ships and locomotives where only D. C. current isavailable in most cases. An average of of ships and of locomotivesoperate on D. C. The construction shown provides an additional circuitenabling the use of high voltage (1l0-120 volts) with the conventionalflash-light facilities, the same bulb being employed for both purposes.When the fiash-light is in use it functions as any ordinary flash-lightas will be evident from Fig. 2 merely by opening and closing the switch.When the extensionlight is employed the extension cord 96 is broughtinto play in an obvious manner and the plug means 102, 104 and 106 isfitted into the socket 42 or 82, respectively, as is clear from thedrawings.

It is to be pointed out here that the battery switch should obviously beoif when an outside source of current is used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A flash-light embodying a casing of insulation material, said casingbeing open and screw-threaded at its 4 bottom and having aswitch-equipped flash-light current conductor embodied therein andhaving a pair of diametrically opposite lengthwise bores containingadded current conductors cooperable at their upper ends with the usualbulb assembly, the lower ends of said bores opening through the bottomof said casing, spring-pressed contact elements mounted in the lower endportions of said bores, a readily applicable and removable adapter ofinsulation material having a flanged portion abutting the bottom end ofsaid casing, said adapter having an axial socket for reception of a cordplug and also having prongs including extensions projecting into saidbores and electrically abutting their respective spring-pressed contactelements.

2. A flash-light comprising a casing providing a hollow receiver andholder for dry cells, said casing being open at at least one end andformed at the opposite end with an integral socket and complementalcurrent conducting prongs projecting into said socket, a bulb assemblyremovably mounted on said open end and embodying a reflector, aflash-light bulb carried thereby, a lens and clamp means for the lensand reflector separably connectible with the open end portion of saidcasing, a pair of current conductors embedded in said casing andoperatively connected at like ends to their respective prongs,conventional dry cells contained for use in the receiver space of saidcasing, the cell closest to the base of said bulb having cooperatingelectrical contact with said base, one of said conductors havingelectrical contact with said reflector, a flexibly resilient contactfinger electrically connected to the other of said conductors andsupported by having one end fixed to but insulated from said reflector,the other end thereof being cooperatively interposed between said bulbbase and the last mentioned dry cell, a third current conductor alsoembedded in said casing and including a manually and optionally usableswitch arranged accessibly on the exterior of said casing and havingcircuit connection with said reflector and dry cells, whereby the onebulb assembly functions for selective operation from said cells on theone hand or from a source of either A. C. or D. C. house current on theother hand, and in combination, a readily attachable and detachablevoltage dropping extension cord having a pronged plug on one end of thecord for connection with a conventional A. C. or D. C. outlet and havinga plug on the other end which fits removably into said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS689,937 Werner Dec. 31, 1901 1,330,974 Bauman et a1 Feb. 17, 19201,331,320 Chomier Feb. 17, 1920 1,442,648 Carter Jan. 16, 1923 1,655,700Hummel Jan. 10, 1928 2,302,248 Olson Nov. 17, 1942 2,599,295 Thomas June3, 1952 2,628,339 Werner Feb. 10, 1953

